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Ezra 7

Ezra’s commission joins devotion to God’s law with royal support, which Ezra credits to God’s hand upon him.

Ezra travels from Babylon to Jerusalem during the reign of Artaxerxes, king of Persia, accompanied by Israelites and temple workers. A priest descended from Aaron and a skilled scribe, he has devoted himself to studying, obeying, and teaching God’s law. The king’s letter authorizes the return, provides resources for temple worship, and gives Ezra authority to appoint judges and enforce the law. Ezra closes by blessing God for the king’s support and the strength to gather leaders.

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1Now after these things, in the reign of Artaxerxes king of Persia, Ezra the son of Seraiah, the son of Azariah, the son of Hilkiah,
5the son of Abishua, the son of Phinehas, the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the chief priest—
6this Ezra went up from Babylon. He was a skilled scribe in the law of Moses, which the LORD, the God of Israel, had given; and the king granted him all his request, according to the LORD his God’s hand on him.
7Some of the children of Israel, including some of the priests, the Levites, the singers, the gatekeepers, and the temple servants went up to Jerusalem in the seventh year of Artaxerxes the king.
8He came to Jerusalem in the fifth month, which was in the seventh year of the king.
9For on the first day of the first month he began to go up from Babylon; and on the first day of the fifth month he came to Jerusalem, according to the good hand of his God on him.
10For Ezra had set his heart to seek the LORD’s law, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.
11Now this is the copy of the letter that King Artaxerxes gave to Ezra the priest, the scribe, even the scribe of the words of the LORD’s commandments, and of his statutes to Israel:
12Artaxerxes, king of kings, To Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the perfect God of heaven. Now
13I make a decree that all those of the people of Israel and their priests and the Levites in my realm, who intend of their own free will to go to Jerusalem, go with you.
14Because you are sent by the king and his seven counselors to inquire concerning Judah and Jerusalem, according to the law of your God which is in your hand,
15and to carry the silver and gold, which the king and his counselors have freely offered to the God of Israel, whose habitation is in Jerusalem,
16and all the silver and gold that you will find in all the province of Babylon, with the free will offering of the people and of the priests, offering willingly for the house of their God which is in Jerusalem.
17Therefore you shall with all diligence buy with this money bulls, rams, and lambs with their meal offerings and their drink offerings, and shall offer them on the altar of the house of your God which is in Jerusalem.
18Whatever seems good to you and to your brothers to do with the rest of the silver and the gold, do that according to the will of your God.
19The vessels that are given to you for the service of the house of your God, deliver before the God of Jerusalem.
20Whatever more will be needed for the house of your God, which you may have occasion to give, give it out of the king’s treasure house.
21I, even I, Artaxerxes the king, make a decree to all the treasurers who are beyond the River, that whatever Ezra the priest, the scribe of the law of the God of heaven, requires of you, it shall be done with all diligence,
22up to one hundred talents of silver, and to one hundred cors of wheat, and to one hundred baths of wine, and to one hundred baths of oil, and salt without prescribing how much.
23Whatever is commanded by the God of heaven, let it be done exactly for the house of the God of heaven; for why should there be wrath against the realm of the king and his sons?
24Also we inform you that it shall not be lawful to impose tribute, custom, or toll on any of the priests, Levites, singers, gatekeepers, temple servants, or laborers of this house of God.
25You, Ezra, according to the wisdom of your God that is in your hand, appoint magistrates and judges who may judge all the people who are beyond the River, who all know the laws of your God; and teach him who doesn’t know them.
26Whoever will not do the law of your God and the law of the king, let judgment be executed on him with all diligence, whether it is to death, or to banishment, or to confiscation of goods, or to imprisonment.
27Blessed be the LORD, the God of our fathers, who has put such a thing as this in the king’s heart, to beautify the LORD’s house which is in Jerusalem;
28and has extended loving kindness to me before the king and his counselors, and before all the king’s mighty princes. I was strengthened according to the LORD my God’s hand on me, and I gathered together chief men out of Israel to go up with me.
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Key verses
Ezra 7:6Ezra’s introduction pairs his skill in God’s law with God’s hand as the source of the king’s favor.
Ezra 7:27Ezra blesses God for putting support for the Jerusalem temple into the Persian king’s heart.
Ezra 7:28Ezra attributes his courage and standing before Persia’s rulers to God’s loving kindness, then gathers leaders to accompany him.
Where this chapter reaches

Nehemiah shares the language of God’s good hand in accounts of royal support for work in Jerusalem, while 1 Chronicles records the priestly ancestry named here. Proverbs shares the claim that a king’s heart is subject to God’s rule.

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Notice

After reading the whole chapter

What do you notice about Ezra’s resolve to study, obey, and teach God’s law?

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Where, if anywhere, can you trace God’s kindness through another person’s help, as Ezra does?

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Questions people ask about Ezra 7

Who is Ezra in Ezra 7?

Ezra is a priest whose ancestry is traced to Aaron, and a skilled scribe in the law of Moses. He comes from Babylon to Jerusalem in Artaxerxes’ seventh year. Verse 10 describes his resolve to seek God’s law, practice it, and teach its statutes and ordinances in Israel.

What did Artaxerxes authorize Ezra to do?

Artaxerxes permits Israelites who wish to return to accompany Ezra and supplies funds and offerings for temple worship. He exempts temple workers from taxes and authorizes Ezra to appoint judges and teach God’s law. His decree also permits severe penalties for disobedience, including death, banishment, confiscation of goods, and imprisonment.

What does God’s hand on Ezra mean?

The chapter uses God’s hand to describe his favor and help. It connects that help with the king granting Ezra’s request, Ezra reaching Jerusalem, and his strength to gather leaders. Ezra’s closing praise explains the emphasis: God has shown loving kindness and moved the king to support the temple.

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Cross-reference data from OpenBible.info (CC BY). Scripture from the World English Bible (public domain). Arc diagram after Chris Harrison and Christoph Römhild (2007).